UDA and Save the Children project results
Ukrainian Deminers Association successfully completed project “To improve the protection, mental health and living conditions of community members in the areas in East Area”, withing which we taught more than 16,000 people how to avoid the danger from explosive ordnance.
The project lasted 9 months — from November 2023 to July 2024, and was implemented together with Save the Children International in Ukraine with the support of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its main goal was to provide children and adults with knowledge that will help them change their behavior to a safe when dealing with explosive ordnance, save their lives and health.
Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE)
The training took place in the format of face-to-face lectures, where certified UDA instructors taught EORE safety rules to children, their families, IDPs and teachers. After the sessions participants had a better understanding of how to behave when encountering a mine, and their level of knowledge increased by 85%, according to surveys.
To organize training sessions, UDA instructors sent official letters to local authorities, schools, colleges and other institutions in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. Representatives of these institutions helped them to organize training sessions on mine danger.
Special attention was paid not only to theory, but also to practical exercises and interactive forms of education. For example, in the “Aquarium” training, participants on a simulated minefield learned how to safely exit dangerous situations under the supervision of others, which developed their critical thinking. Animal therapy was used for children 5-6 years old. Through the stories of Patron the dog, children and their parents were taught how to avoid the danger of mines and other explosive ordnance.
As part of the project, UDA created inclusive educational materials, for example, brochures printed in Braille for people with vision impairments. Video EORE lessons with sign language translation for hearing-impaired children and adults are also available on our website.
UDA and Save the Children cooperation
UDA and Save the Children exchanged experience through trainings.
For example, Save the Children conducted trainings for UDA on the following topics:
- Safeguarding;
- Children protection in emergency situations;
- Mental health and crisis support.
For their part, UDA trainers organized a three-day training for Save the Children partners and employees.
Also, UAD trainers conducted a three-day training for five teams of their instructors. After that, the instructors received certificates that allow them to conduct EORE training sessions.
The cooperation between UDA and Save the Children began in 2022. During this time, five projects were implemented together, and it is planned to continue cooperation for two more projects.
UDA and Save the Children mine danger cooperation
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